james 4:7 (part 2): resist the devil

After calling us to submit to God, James then promises us that when we resist the devil, the devil will flee. Let's discuss what the enemy does, and how we can resist him.

^"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10).

There are several ways the enemy tries to reach us:

• subtle lies

• fear, doubt

• unforgiveness

• pride

• distraction

• isolation

• social media

• neglecting spiritual disciplines (prayer, Bible study)

He wants us to question ourselves and God's goodness.

How to resist: the more rooted we are in Scripture and the more we know about who Jesus is, the better we can recognize the enemy's tactics and respond with truth. Satan approached Jesus in the desert to tempt Jesus while He was vulnerable (Matthew 4:1-11). Jesus stood firm and defeated temptation from Satan by quoting scripture.

We may not be literally face to face with Satan in a desert, but we can make small, faithful choices to resist him every single day. We can choose peace over anxiety, faith over fear, forgiveness over hate.

Resisting the devil means:

• Standing firm in God's truth

• Choosing obedience over temptation

• Remembering who we are in Christ

  
  

Each time we resist the devil, we are declaring that Christ has authority over our lives. This isn't easy, in fact it may be a daily struggle for some. But, we can always ask God to give us strength where we fall short. He is our Father and wants us to run to Him with everything.

Reflection & Discussion Questions:

What lie or temptation am I facing right now?

What truth from God's worth speaks against that lie?

Weekly challenge: when you notice fear, temptation, or discouragement this week, pause and ask: "What does God's Word say about this?" Then choose a verse to pray and meditate on.